Joining the union is the next best thing to having a guardian angel by your side and you can count on that!!

The History of the SDA

The SDA has looked after the rights of retail workers for more than 100 years.

As a result of the union’s hard work and dedication since 1908, SDA members are among the highest paid retail workers in the world today.

Australia’s most successful union

No wonder the SDA is Australia’s most successful union with more than 220,000 members in retail, fast food and retail distribution.

The SDA has stood side by side with the nation’s retail worker as the industry revolutionized into its modern-day form, having endured historical events from the Great Depression to World Wars and then transformed in the 60s with the advent of American-style shopping centres and multinational companies.

Improving your rights at work

Throughout the years, the union has won fantastic improvements for retail workers including the five-day week, the 38 hour week, equal pay for women and one of the greatest achievements of all – superannuation for retail workers.

The SDA is a key player when it comes to paid maternity leave and occupational health and safety issues and is always at the forefront of protecting workers from unfair dismissal, termination and redundancy. The SDA was at the forefront of the campaign against John Howard’s Workchoices which undermined the rights of ordinary Australian workers.

With such an emphasis on the rights of its members, it’s no wonder the SDA continues to grow and prosper today. Your union is still ready to be front and centre if the right to a “fair go” for any of its members is challenged.